EPISODE 1

Ding! Ding! The alarm sounded at the worst of
time. i had barely slept for an hour and the
sleep is still very much in my eyes but i have
to get out of bed now if i don’t want to miss
the 6:00am bus trip to Lagos.
The past three month has been very hectic for
me, endless hours of lectures and an even
longer hours of staying behind in class to
read and understand what the lecturer just
taught. It’s my first year in the University and
i feel the pressure already. I could have
chosen to spend my time partying like most of
my other colleagues but that’s just not an
option for me, i’m here to get a degree and
make my mother proud, that and nothing
else.
I quickly got up from bed, looked at my
roommate, Michael, as loud as the alarm was,
i bet he didn’t hear it. You see Micheal can
sleep through an earthquake, he sleeps 9pm
every night and wakes up 10am in the
morning and by 2pm he takes a nap again,
he never misses his sleeps like he misses his
lectures. I ran to the bathroom and wash up
and in 20mins i was ready to leave. i carried
my already packed luggage, looked around the
room to see if i haven’t forgotten anything, i
better not forget a thing, I’ll be away for
6weeks. That’s all we got for our first
semester break.
I decided i need to wake Michael up, i tapped
him and that had no effect so i tapped again,
this time a little harder like i was beating a
drum
Me: Michael! Ogbeni! wake up, i don they go
lasgidi
Michael: (yearning ) why you con wake me
up ? shey na me go drive you go ni?
Me: I just wanted to say goodbye
Michael: Mr. man dey go jare, bye bye! no
wake me again o if you know sey you wan
reach lasgidi in peace.
He turnes his back and before long he was
snoring again. Michael is a final year student
and i still wonder how he got there even with
all the sleeping. i got out of the house and
took a bike to the park and i was the last
passenger, i paid and within 15 minutes we
were already on the lagos/Ibadan expressway.
My school, University of Ibadan has used up
all the energy i had so i couldnt wait to go
home, i couldnt wait to see my mom and
brother, Wale. I have missed them all. But
most importantly, i couldn’t wait to see
Bidemi Adegboye! the girl who has had my
heart for more than a year now, i have seen
alot of girls in school but none has made me
feel the way Bidemi makes me feel, she’s
everything i want in a girl and she’s almost
perfect and maybe this time when i get home
i’ll finally have the courage to walk up to her
and tell her how i really feel about her.
The trip ended faster than i expected and in
no time i was in front of our house and
knocking on the door, Wale opened and
screamed my name
Wale: Dolapo ooooo!
Me: Wale oooooo
We both bust into laughter and shook hands.
Wale who is 2 years younger than me has
been my best friend since ever. Though we
fight alot, especially at those times he forgets
that i am his older brother and therefore
deserves to be respected. He’s almost as tall as
i am so to him, the 2 years gap doesn’t matter
to him and often time he got punched in the
mouth when he brings it up
Mom came out of the kitchen and had that
priceless smile every son wishes to recieve
from his mother. i postrated as i approached
her
Me: Ekule Mummy (greetings)
Mom: Dolapo! Kaabo omo mi! Bawo ni irin ajo
re (Dolapo! welcome my son! How was your
trip)
Me: Fine o mummy
Mom:Thank God! i know you’re hungry, go
and wash up, the Semo and Efo riro soup is
almost ready
I have.dreamt of my mom’s soup for weeks in
school, i couldn’t wait to devour it and leave
no remnants. Wale and I went inside our
room. Our house is just a two bedroom flat,
that’s all my mom could afford and for a
widow, no one can blame her.
I was a year and half old when Father died,
Mom was pregnant with Wale. I remembered
just a few details of Father, i remember i
always sit on his lap and watch Sesame
streets every Saturday morning. Father loved
to listen to the news but would sit with as i
watched my cartoons.He gave his name,
Dolapo Martins Jr. I miss him everyday. He
died in a ghastly motor accident, i was asleep
when the news came, Mom screamed on top
of her voice and no one could hold her down.
Just 3 weeks after Father died some of my
uncles drove Mother out of the house
accusing her of using witchcraft to kill her
husband.
Growing up was hard, we moved from places.
It was especially hard for mother because
Father didnt allow her to work, he worked
hard and provided for his wife, son and
unborn child. Mom gave birth to Wale 6
months after Father died, all he heard was
stories about his father and pictures to see
what he looked like. Mom was between jobs
for years but finally when i was 12 she got a
job as an accountant in a company, she
spends her earnings just to take care of her
two sons who eats like gluttons.
Wale snapped me out of my thinking with
one of his numerous and annoying
questions.
Wale: Dolly P! how the girls for UI
(Wale is only 17 but i know he’s spoken to or
dated more girls than i could dream of)
Me: You this boy! when you get admission,
you go see them yourself
Wale: I cant wait o, now that i have passed
my WAEC na only Jamb remain
>Me: just prepare for it well o, we cant afford
to disappoint Mom abeg
Wale: Trust me now.. i sabi book pass you
Me: My friend Shut up !!
(We both laughed at how silly we looked)
Me: (clears throat) so Wale tell me now, how
far with Bidemi ??
Wale: (laughing) see you o! Mr lover lover.
siddon there! you don miss show plenty
>Me: (curious) Abeg gist me, wetin happen…
>Wale: Na long story o, i no get time
” I said to myself, i walked faster picking the
fallen apples, vigorously running after the
apples which wouldn’t stop rolling away, one
apple almost fell into the drainage, i made a
quick dash, grabbed the apple and gbam! i
fell inside the dirty water. I felt like a hero
but all this time, Bidemi was looking at me in
disbelieve. I stepped out of the drainage,
soaked up and looked up at her
Bidemi?smiling) Thanks but you shouldn’t
have bothered yourself. Those apples are
spoilt already, i was actually going to throw
them away. Anyways, thank you!
She turned and left before i could say a word.
i looked down at the apples and noticed they
are indeed spoilt. D--n! i fell inside a gutter
just to save bad apples so i can impress a girl!
F--k me!! I was drenched in dirty water!
“Dolapo!!!! Your food is ready o come and eat
Sighs! Starting tomorrow, i have to summon
courage to walk up to Bidemi and have a
conversation with her, i know i have to, i just
have to. Haven decided that, i made my way
to the dinning table before Mom calls out
again..

To Be Continued…